Jace's Photo Essay (Split Blog Tour)

Today I'm thrilled to have Swati Avasthi here with a photo essay from Jace (the main character in her debut novel Split) as a part of the Before The Split Blog Tour. For every comment Swati receives on the tour stops, she will donate $1 to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and all proceeds from the auction will go to FVPF.

Be sure to check out the auction site where you can bid on items such as a signed/personalized copy of Mistwood by Leah Cypress, a first chapter critique from Michele Corriel AND a signed/personalized copy of Fairview Felines, and so much more!

And without further ado...

Jace’s Photo Essay:  Change in Perspective

My life in Chicago…

…where I was always looking for a way up

…or a way out.

But now, in Albuquerque, my vantage seems to have changed:

And, by seeing things in a different light, …

… possibilities lay out before me.

These beautiful photographs were provided by John Magruder.  They, plus loads more, are available for purchase.  And the penultimate shot in this essay is available to bid on at the Split Charity Auction via John’s generous donation. 

***

Absolutely stunning! 

Don't forget to check out a copy of Split by Swati Avashti, whether at your library or at the bookstore (and trust me, this book is worth reading)

Also don't forget to leave a comment! Comment = $1 for donation!!

-Lea

Split by Swati Avasthi

Book: Split

Author: Swati Avasthi

Release: March, 2010

Pages: 288

Source: Publisher/The Teen {Book} Scene

My Summary: 

When Jace Witherspoon gets kicked out of his house once he finally fights back against his abusive father, he heads off to find the person his mother tells him to find: Christian, his older brother who escaped their household years ago.

Except when he gets to Christian's, he finds that his older brother has moved on in life, and never even bothered to tell his girlfriend that he had a brother, let alone what kind of life he had before leaving home. Christian's life is completely different now, and Jace is trying to find his place in it.

As Jace and Christian struggle to live together, Jace must come to terms with who he is before he can truly move on. He'll have to face off with what he's done, the secrets he's keeping, and realize that while some people cannot ever change, other people can.

Review: Split is emotional, raw, and narrated by one of the more realistic voices I've come across lately.

Split is stunning. Each character, from our narrator Jace to his brother Christian, are all unique and realistic. Jace's voice is especially spot-on, and so real. He's charming, athletic, guilt-ridden and complicated. In comparison to Jace, the other characters don't shine quite as much.

The abuse aspect of this story is very heartbreaking, because it's just so complex. It's bitter, honest, and frightening. There's one scene in particular that had me cringing at the mere thought of it happening. It's difficult to read, to imagine. But it's Jace's secrets that were some of the hardest to learn.

It's difficult to say much about this story, except to say that you should read Split if you haven't already. Split will move you and give you something important to think about.

Highlights: Avasthi dives into a difficult story with ease. Her writing flows effortlessly, her narrator is realistic, and the story is impossible to pull away from. The first chapter, even the first line, hooked me. The bonds of family were interesting too, at just how much pain people can let others cause them because they love them. It's sad that the saying "you hurt the one's you love" is so very true.

Lowlights: I would have loved to see more of the side characters, like Mirriam and Dakota. Or at least a bit more depth to them.

Rating: